Former radio "voice of the Wildcats" has died -
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So did I. Definitely a human encyclopedia of Chicago sports... pro, HS, you name it, he covered it. I did not realize Grobber did radio for NU basketball games, but no surprise there.
Met Grobber briefly back in the early 80s, during my time at NU, coincidently the same day I met and interviewed another Chicago sports radio legend, Chuck Swirsky, for a school project.
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He was a year ahead of me at Von Steuben H.S.Northwest Side of Chicago.Never really knew him other then to say hi when we passed in the hallways R.I.P.LES.
With all of the multitude of things Les did in the sports world I think his last spot as the over night host just matched who he was and what he could do and where he came from, perfectly and he knew local sports and appreciated them....He is going to be tough to replace.... Not many Chicago icons left. You never felt that Les was chasing money but chasing his passion....Chicago Sports
Very well said.
Unlike many of the daytime hosts (on all the sports stations, not just the Score), Grobber didn't condescend to Joe Fan. He let you talk and wanted to hear your point of view.
I used to see him a lot when I worked for the Bulls. Also saw him a quite a few NU BB games.
No disrespect to Dave Eanett, great announcer and great guy, but I sure wish Duane Dow were somehow still part of some radio or tv calls, maybe doing halftime or pregame shows or something. What a character!
I actually gave him his start. He was my color commentator on the Northwestern basketball broadcasts in 1970.
Yes. But I can't remember who the two guys were after Duane Dow and before Dave when WAIT was doing the games. They also did both sports. I think one was a legendary retired local High School coach or something.
I always assumed he got in an occasional nap when Cicero Joe went on too long. “Oh yeah, you think that about Glenallen Hill? Whaaa, sure sure you think Singleton’s got an all-star future? Yeah, I like Mangum too. Gene Pingatore? One of the best.”
I remember Larry Lujack used to kid with him, and he was so serious he didn't get it. One time he was reading the Bears injury report (imagine Lujack's voice) and he goes something like: "Walter Payton...groin.. Jim McMahon...groin...Richard Dent...groin. What are they doing in the locker room?" and Les is all serious, it totally goes over his head and he's explaining why groin injuries are so common. Great, unintentional straight man for Larry.
Was one of them possibly Bruce Blair? I recall he was with WAIT during the 80s for some time. That was at the dawn of sports talk radio shows in Chicago. Grobber, Chuck Swirsky, Duane Dow, Bruce Blair, and then of course, Chet Coppock.... the pioneers of sports talk radio in Chicago, before the All Sports stations started in the early 90s.
Got to know Bruce Blair at McGaw while I worked some NU games for WNUR. He was a real good guy in the business. In 82-83 I did a little stuff for WNUR, doing a couple sports update broadcasts, but the highlight was definitely getting to be the statistician for the radio guys doing the NU men's basketball games. Got to sit courtside for the games and feed them stats. That was a blast. I believe that was the last year playing in the Old Barn before renovating to Welsh-Ryan, and the team playing for a year down at DePaul.
Anybody from the 80s remember our giant upset win over Bobby Knight and IU that year? I believe we never came within 20 points of the Hoosiers for the entire 70s and 80s.... except that night at McGaw, when we smoked them by 27, as I recall. I could hardly contain myself sitting courtside that night between good old Perry Weine and Willie Weinbaum.
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I will admit that name does ring a vague bell. I need to see if I have a NU Media Guide from back then somewhere, I don't think I do.
When I lived in Chicago, I often listened to Les on The Score (but otherwise never listened to sports radio). After I moved to Tucson 9 + years ago I some times listened to him via the internet . I always repsected his opinion (even when I diagreed with him) because he was so genuine. The phrase "one of a kind" is overused but to describe The Grobber it is valid. He is irreplaceable.
I really don't remember Les Grobstein but am interested in the "Lee Elia Rant" I played semi-pro baseball with Lee in Trenton N.J. Doug Clemens of "Lou Brock Trade" fame was also a teammate. I guess both would not be fan favorites of Cubs fans
Google Lee Elia.A recording of his infamous rant should pop up.One of the best let it all hang out no holds bar blowing one's gasket of all time.The Cubs were 5-14 at the time.Won't tell you everything he said but when Elia says 85 percent of the population works and the other 15 percent come out here hold on tight cause you might fall off your chair.Also get the version that has all the swearing in it.Enjoy.
Lee had a temper but he couldn't hit the water if he fell out of a boat. Doug had a smooth stroke and was a good hitter and versatile player. Both were engaging after games over a beer. The quality of play in the league was exceptional and we drew pretty good crowds. We passed a "hat" during the games and used the money for postgame beers and to defray costs of national tournaments
I listened to the "rant"-an entertaining way to support his players
I was a one man band at the time and he volunteered to help and worked his way in. That was Les, always hustling. He helped create the award for MVP of the DePaul-NU hoops game which unfortunately has been lost to the COVID the past two years.